Sandwich holder



ay 27, 1969 H. 'r. EPSTEIN 3,446,416

' SANDWICH HOLDER Filed Nov. 8, 1967 /N VENTOR ifiarrg @ifipatrin EM 4. Rich ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,446,416 SANDWICH HOLDER Harry T. Epstein, 20 Mansfield Road, Wellesley, Mass. 02181 Filed Nov. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 681,480

Int. Cl. B65d 5/24, 65/00, 75/00 US. Cl. 22931 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sandwich holder especially designed for hamburger sandwiches formed from a round roll. The holder has an elongated foldable tray member which lies flat when unfolded. The member includes a pair of end bellows elements. A foldable side member extends from both elongated sides of the tray. The side members are folded together in parallel producing a fold about a central transverse axis and causes the end bellows elements to fold inwardly and provide the tray member.

The present invention relates to sandwich holders for sandwiches in round rolls, especially hot sandwiches. For example, hamburgers, hot roast beef, baked ham, lamb and other foods have internal juices which drip on the user when held in place for eating; steak sandwiches, for example, frequently have a great deal of fat which produces gravy. The problem is terribly aggravated when the user chooses to employ mustard or catchup or other sauces.

Such sandwiches are normally hand-held and are served in luncheonettes or diners where patrons frequently are unable properly to wash their hands. Even when they do, however, there is a substantial problem of infection which may be communicated from bacteria and various virus strains crawling all over the sandwich.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a sandwich holder for sandwiches of the character described which has a tray member wherein extraneous fluids from the sandwich may be captured to avoid staining the clothing of the person holding the sandwich in position for eating.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sandwich holder for a sandwich of the character described which provides increased sanitation and protection from dirt and communicable diseases frequently produced by contamination from the hands.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved sandwich holder for a sandwich of the character described which may be conveniently stored without occupying excess space.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a sandwich holder. The holder includes an elongated tray member adapted to lie flat when unfolded.

The tray member includes a pair of end bellows elements. A foldable side member extends from each elongated side of the tray.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an unfolded sandwich holder embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sandwich holder shown in a folded condition, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of sandwich holder in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and with particular reference to FIG. 1, there is here illustrated the sandwich at modification of the holder of the invention. The holder, generally indicated at 10, has a tray member including two pairs of bellows elements 11, 12, 13, and 14. The triangular bellows elements 11 and 12 are defined by, for example, a diecut, which provides angular axis folds 15 and 16' and a reverse central told 17. At the other end is another group of angular axes folds 18 and 19 and in the reverse axis fold 20. A central transverse axis fold 21 extends between the points of divergence between-the two pairs of angular axes. Side members 22 and 23 extend from the elongated sides of the tray member from a side member transverse axes folds 24 and 25.

Referring now to FIG. 2, folding-the side members to bring them substantially into parallel relation in a single motion causes the end bellows elements 11 and 12 to fold inwardly along the axes 15 and 16, as well as with respect to each other along the axis 17.

In a similar manner, the bellows elements 13 and 14 fold inwardly about the axes 18 and 19 and with respect to each other about axis 20. When the side members are folded together a tray member is formed providing a basin which is available to catch all drippings.

The holder of the invention is preferably formed from moisture resistant cardboard, for example, .015 inch thick and score cut to provide the necessary fold lines. It will be apparent that the unfolded holder may be stored in such a manner as to occupy very little space while being available for use a required.

In FIG. 3 a modification of the holder in FIG. 2 is shown wherein a plurality of pleats are included in the end bellows elements.

The holder of the invention may readily be molded or otherwise formed from organic plastics, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, etc. The holder may be made very thin by using suitable plastic materials having thicknesses less than .005 inch.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the invention and the attendant discussion that the sandwich holder of the present invention presents a-;tr'uly remarkable step forward in the art of holding sandwiches, particularly sandwiches formed from round rolls, such as hamburgers. While the holder of the invention is highly suitable for hamburger sandwiches, it is clearly broadly applicable to a wide range of appropriate requirements, including roast beef and other meats, as well as other forms, such as squared, hexagonal and octagonal rolls.

The shape of the side members may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the side members may be inversely circular, elliptic, hyperbolic, perabolic, rectilinear or, for that matter, formed to any arbitrary curve which may enhance the facility with which the holder may be used.

Because of applicants unique triangular shaped crosssection of the tray member, the sandwich may be advanced by squeezing the tray about the central transverse axis thereby facilitating the process of eating the sandwich.

While there has hereinbefore presented what are at present considered to be the preferred embodiments of the sandwich holder of the invention, it will be apparent that many and varied modifications may be made to the sandwich holder of the invention without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

It will be considered therefore that all such variations, changes and modifications of the sandwich holder of the invention will become a part of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sandwich holder, comprising:

an elongated foldable tray member adapted to lie fiat when unfolded, said member including apair of end bellows elements said tray member being scored along an axis between and parallel to elongated side edges t ereof;

a foldable side member extending from one elongated side of said tray; and

a second foldable side member extending from the other elongated side of said tray.

2. The sandwich holder of claim 1, wherein:

said side members have a circular structure to correspond with a hamburger roll.

3. The holder of claim 1, wherein:

said end bellows elements each have a single pleat folding inwardly of said tray member.

4. The holder of claim 1, wherein:

said end bellows elements have a plurality of pleats.

5. The holder of claim 1, wherein:

said tray member has a triangular section.

6. The holder of claim 1, wherein:

said tray member has a central transverse fold axis;

a pair of angular axis folds diverging from both ends of said transverse axis fold;

a vertical axis fold extending from both ends of said transverse axis fold and between said diverging axes fold; and

a side member transverse axis fold extending parallel to the first said transverse axis told from each elongated side of said tray member between the ends of opposing pairs of said diverging angular axis folds.

7. The holder of claim 6, wherein:

said side members are circular.

8. The holder of claim 6, wherein:

said holder is formed of cardboard.

9. The holder of claim 6, wherein:

said holder is formed of organic plastic.

10. The holder of claim 1, wherein:

said tray member is molded from an organic plastic.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,476,298 12/1923 Green 229l.5 2,794,589 6/1957 Souval 229-68 3,355,082 11/1967 Wood 229-l6 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

